---
type: "LegalText"
title: "54 U.S.C. § 120101"
description: "Definition of National Heritage Area"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 54
title_name: "NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND RELATED PROGRAMS"
chapter_number: "1201"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA SYSTEM"
section: "120101"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 120101"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc54@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t54/s120101"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-54/usc54.xml"
source_hash: "46f7b21e4616c124a96ccca50ee6aee5e225f0e2e5525867d4257d6d01e73065"
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text_hash: "0ba698de2d27be141345769df61a65c0f7deecabbcb4f5983ee1cc16bb5500c7"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 54 U.S.C. § 120101 - Definition of National Heritage Area

## Text

In this chapter, the term “National Heritage Area” means a component of the National Heritage Area System described in section 120102(b).

(Added Pub. L. 117–339, § 2(a), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6158.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Private Property and Regulatory ProtectionsPub. L. 117–339, § 2(b)(1), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6162, provided that: “(1) In general.—Nothing in this section [enacting this chapter, amending provisions listed in a table of National Heritage and River Corridors, a table of National Heritage Areas, and a table of National Heritage Canalways set out under section 120102 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 120102 of this title] (including an amendment made by this section)—“(A) abridges any right of a public or private property owner, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within a National Heritage Area; “(B) requires any property owner to permit public access (including Federal, State, Tribal government, or local government access) to a property; “(C) modifies any provision of Federal, State, Tribal, or local law with respect to public access or use of private land; “(D)(i) alters any applicable land use regulation, land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency or Tribal government; or “(ii) conveys to any local coordinating entity any land use or other regulatory authority; “(E) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights; “(F) diminishes the authority of a State to manage fish and wildlife, including through the regulation of fishing and hunting within a National Heritage Area in the State; or “(G) creates or affects any liability—“(i) under any other provision of law; or “(ii) of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on private property.”